Death

Helena Ravenclaw: "He tracked me to the forest where I was hiding. When I refused to return with him, he became violent. The baron was always a hot-tempered man. Furious at my refusal, jealous of my freedom, he stabbed me."

Harry Potter: "The Baron? You mean —?"

Helena Ravenclaw: "The Bloody Baron, yes. When he saw what he had done, he was overcome with remorse. He took the weapon that had claimed my life, and used it to kill himself. All these centuries later, he wears his chains as an act of penitence… as he should."

Later on in his life, Helena, after stealing a diadem belonging to her mother that increased the intelligence of the wearer, ran away to Albania. Around this same time, Rowena fell fatally ill,[6] although legend has it that it was a broken heart,[7] possibly caused by her daughter abandoning her. Rowena ordered the Baron to go after her, which he did, eventually finding her hiding in a forest. After he had found her, the Baron tried to compel her to return with him, but she refused, and, in a fit of rage, he killed her. Overcome with grief, he proceeded to take his own life with the same weapon he used to stab Helena.[6]

Post-mortem

"Harry looked over at the Slytherin table and saw a horrible ghost sitting there, with blank staring eyes, a gaunt face, and robes stained with silver blood."

The Baron, as well as Helena, now known as the Grey Lady, both returned from the dead as ghosts, and returned to Hogwarts Castle, where they became the house ghosts of their former Houses, Slytherin and Ravenclaw respectively.[3] The Baron has been remorseful of his actions ever since, and carries heavy chains as a sign of penance.[6] Nobody else seems to know why he is covered in blood, not even the other Hogwartsghosts, excluding the Grey Lady.[3] For unspecified reasons, presumably related to his apparently violent, dangerous nature, the Baron has gained Peeves's respect and is the only one, besides Professor Dumbledore, who can give him orders.[3]

1991—1992 school year

"So — new Gryffindors! I hope you're going to help us win the house championship this year? Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable — he's the Slytherin ghost."

1992—1993 school year

"They passed a group of gloomy nuns, a ragged man wearing chains, and the Fat Friar, a cheerful Hufflepuff ghost, who was talking to a knight with an arrow sticking out of his forehead. Harry wasn't surprised to see that the Bloody Baron, a gaunt, staring Slytherin ghost covered in silver bloodstains, was being given a wide berth by the other ghosts."

1994—1995 school year

Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington: "You're lucky there's a feast at all tonight, you know. There was trouble in the kitchens earlier."

Harry Potter: "Why? Wha' 'appened?"

Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington: "Peeves, of course. The usual argument, you know. He wanted to attend the feast — well, it's quite out of the question, you know what he's like, utterly uncivilized, can't see a plate of food without throwing it. We held a ghost's council — the Fat Friar was all for giving him the chance — but most wisely, in my opinion, the Bloody Baron put his foot down."

1996—1997 school year

Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington: "He is here. Professor Dumbledore returned to the school an hour ago. I had it from the Bloody Baron, who saw him arrive. He appeared, according to the Baron, to be in good spirits, though a little tired, of course."

Harry Potter: "Where is he?"

Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington: "Oh, groaning and clanking up on the Astronomy Tower, it's a favourite pastime of his —"

Harry Potter: "Not the Bloody Baron — Dumbledore!"

Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington: "Oh — in his office. I believe, from what the Baron said, that he had business to attend to before turning in —"

Physical description

As a ghost, the Baron was very pale,[4] pearly-white and slightly transparent.[3] He had wide, staring,[15] black eyes[3] and a gaunt face.[3] He dressed in robes covered in silver bloodstains,[14] and carried chains in a final act of penitence for having murdered Helena Ravenclaw.[6] He also sported a curly powdered wig and carried his sword.[19] He spoke in a hoarse whisper.[11]

Personality and traits

Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington: "Well, now, you shouldn't take that attitude. Peaceful cooperation, that's the key. We ghosts, though we belong to separate houses, maintain links of friendship. In spite of the competitiveness between Gryffindor and Slytherin, I would never dream of seeking an argument with the Bloody Baron."

During his lifetime, the Baron was described by Helena Ravenclaw as a "hot-tempered man". He insisted on having his way in interactions, responding with violent uncontrolled anger when contradicted.[6] As a ghost, he was frightening and most people did not seem to enjoy his presence,[3] not even his fellow ghosts.[12] However, he seemed to have a cordial, if not friendly, relationship with the ghost of Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington,[8] despite Ronald Weasley's allegations of the latter being "terrified" of him.[17] The Baron seemed to be intolerant towards Peeves, who was scared of him,[11] and could not bear his lack of civilisation, putting "his foot down" over the Poltergeist's presence in the 1994Start-of-Term Feast.[14] He also seems to have a great deal of House pride; before Harry Potter's arrival at Hogwarts, Slytherin had won the House Cup for six years in a row, and the Baron had become "unbearable" according to Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington.[3]

Behind the scenes

In the films, the Baron is depicted as being quite mirthful, in stark contrast to the solemn and quite terrifying character in the books. In the video games, however, the Baron resumes his "book" persona.

The Baron is encountered in the PC/64 version of Philosopher's Stone walking the labyrinthine dungeon corridors where Professor Snape sends Harry Potter to find four crucial potion ingredients. In the next gen version of Chamber of Secrets, the Baron can be seen walking the path from the dungeons through the entrance hall to the teacher's lounge corridor, every night, the chilling sound of his footsteps echoing through the hall each time as he approaches.

Notes and references

↑ 1.01.1Given Hogwarts was founded in around 993 A.D. and that the Baron attended it within Rowena Ravenclaw's lifetime, he must have been eleven by or after the school's founding. So, the earliest date he could have possibly been born is 982.

↑He killed himself after his seven years at Hogwarts, and given the earliest he could have started at the school is 993, his earliest possible death year is 1000.